The National inter-State championship, Athletics Federation of India’s main qualification event for this September’s Doha World Championships and scheduled to be held in Kolkata from July 14 to 17, has been postponed.
Though the AFI has said, in its communication to State associations on Saturday, that the inter-State Nationals have been put off as the national coaches felt that the gap between the National meet and the Worlds was too big, the real reason appears to be West Bengal backing out.
“It is not going to be held in Kolkata. The organisers have said that they don’t want to host it,” Bahadur Singh, the chief National coach, told The Hindu on Saturday.
“We are not hosting it, the problem is due to the election and it will be raining in July.
“I have written to the AFI that we will not be able to host it,” said West Bengal Athletics Association Secretary Kamal Kumar Maitra.